Mongolia 6-Day Gobi & Terelj Tour 2026: Day 1 at Baga Gazriin Chuluu
Embark on day one of an unforgettable 6-night, 7-day Gobi Desert and Terelj tour in Mongolia. Discover Baga Gazriin Chuluu with Startree Mongolia.
Mongolia 6-Night, 7-Day Tour
Day 1: Baga Gazariin Chuluu
© Ssoejini
Sain uu! 👋
This is travel blogger Ssoejini,
fresh off an adventure across the Mongolian steppes.
I finally embarked on my long-time bucket list adventure:
the Mongolia 6-Night, 7-Day Gobi + Terelj Tour!
I booked my trip with the tour company, 'Startree Mongolia'.
Today, I'll kick things off by sharing all the details and exciting episodes
from the first day of the tour, for anyone considering a trip to Mongolia!
My Mongolian adventure was incredibly fun,
so I'm planning to write a lively, vivid review.
I hope you enjoy reading it :)
Table of Contents |
1. Mongolia Trip with Jeju Air & Day 1 Itinerary |
2. Arriving at Ulaanbaatar Airport & Nomin Supermarket |
3. Baga Gazariin Chuluu Cave & Temple |
4. Day 1 Ger Accommodation & Dinner Buffet |
🇲🇳 I went on a 6-night, 7-day Gobi Desert Terelj tour in Mongolia! My friends and I carefully compared 10 tour companies on the Love Mongolia Cafe and got great value for money on our trip🤭 I regretted not going sooner — Mongolia's stunning nature is absolutely incredible‼️ We rode camels and horses, stayed in a traveler's ger, even did drone filming! We wore traditional costumes and stayed in a hotel nicknamed 'Mongolian Signiel'🫶🏻 Our 6-night, 7-day Mongolian trip was truly amazing🫧 ✅ There's even a discount code on my blog, so come check it out :) #MongoliaTravel #MongoliaTour #Mongolia #MongoliaTourCompanyComparison #StartreeFor those of you considering booking with Startree Tour!
If you need the discount code I used on their official website,
please leave a comment :)
Startree1. Mongolia Trip with Jeju Air & Day 1 Itinerary
📍 Chinggis Khaan International Airport
MR2C+HJ5, Sergelen, Töv, Mongolia
I flew with Jeju Air.
Jeju Air offers direct flights to Mongolia,
When special deals pop up, prices range from ~$219 to ~$365,
and they offer generous checked baggage allowance, making it excellent value for money.
Day 1 Itinerary
Arrive at Ulaanbaatar Airport
➡️ Currency Exchange & Nomin Supermarket Stock-up (250km transfer)
➡️ Baga Gazariin Chuluu (Cave & Temple)
➡️ First Ger Stay
2. Arriving at Ulaanbaatar Airport & Nomin Supermarket
In front of the Tom N Toms cafe, we met our guide,
'Lee Su', a Korean language expert who would be taking care of our 6-person team, and our
best driver, 'Darkha'!
After exchanging currency and a quick restroom break, we were ready to set off.
For currency exchange, I used a Travel Wallet at the ATM!
There are plenty of places to exchange money, so no worries!
Since we had a 6-night, 7-day itinerary, we opted for a Starex instead of a Furgon, thinking of our necks and backs!
We were a bit worried the second row might be cramped with 6 people and all our luggage, but it turned out to be much more spacious than we expected and totally comfortable!
🗣️ A Few Mongolian Phrases
Our guide shared some Mongolian language and culture as we traveled!
They say Mongolia is so vast that travel times aren't usually set in stone.
Hello: Senno~?
Thank you: Bayarlalaa~
Cheers!: Tuloo!
Restroom: Nool~👌
(You'll find yourself saying this word a *lot* while traveling...)
👀 The Secret of the Steppe Animals
Those horses, sheep, and goats you see casually roaming around the roadside, looking like they're ownerless? They all have owners!
Mongolians are known for their incredible eyesight, apparently able to spot and manage their animals from afar.
While the legend of 6.0 vision is just a myth, 2.0-3.0 is quite common! Haha.
After about a 20-minute drive from the airport, we arrived at Nomin Mart.
You'll be visiting the mart daily, so don't get carried away and overbuy!
We stocked up on snacks for today's drive, evening treats (late-night snacks), and tomorrow morning's travel!
Cup noodles and alcohol are cheapest at the mart, and our guide even recommended some delicious vodka!
Card payments work perfectly fine!
Our guide helped us with everything, so there were absolutely no inconveniences!
💡 Ssuejini's Honest Mart Recommendations & What to Skip
Category | Shopping Recommendations | Ssuejini's Review & Reason |
Highly Recommended | Doritos Taco Flavor | Pure savory deliciousness! Perfect for fending off drowsiness on those off-road drives. |
EDEN Vodka | Mongolia's national vodka. Super smooth to drink and no hangover, highly recommended! | |
Russian Berry Juice | Refreshing, great for mixing vodka cocktails or as a car drink. | |
Caution / Not Recommended | Milk (Not Lactose-Free) | Buy the wrong milk, and it tastes watery and bland! Avoid 'lactose-free'. |
Essential Supplies | Toilet Paper / Wet Wipes | Toilets in the wilderness/during travel often lack toilet paper! When nature calls, the steppe might be your solution (?!)... Must-have items. |
Pro Tip | Takeaway Cafe Cups | Don't throw away your daily cafe cups; reuse them! |
3. Baga Gazriin Chuluu Caves & Temple
Leaving the mart, we were finally off to our first destination for the day: Baga Gazriin Chuluu!
We started our epic journey of 250km... and they told us this was the *shortest* travel day! Haha.
But wow, Mongolia's unpaved roads aren't just roads; they're more like a Disco Pang Pang ride and a rollercoaster! Lol.
Baga Gazriin Chuluu is a rugged, rocky mountainous area, so sneakers are an absolute must!
It's absolutely breathtaking – you'll be saying 'wow' out loud, trust me! haha
But oh my, the views are out of this world...
You can truly feel the magnificent grandeur of nature with every fiber of your being!
📍 Baga Gazryn Chuluu Cave
Legend has it that this place holds a chilling tale: long ago, both people and their sheep ventured into the cave, never to emerge again!
Our guides pointed out an incredible photo opportunity: looking out from deep inside the cave, you can frame the entrance view, and it's so stunning it'll practically take your breath away!
📍 Temple Ruins
This poignant site carries a somber history. It's said that ancient monks, fleeing persecution, lit fires here for warmth, but tragically, the smoke betrayed their location, leading to their capture. You can truly feel the echoes of the past.
A word of caution: the surrounding area is home to 'stinging nettles' that can cause an irritating rash upon contact. Please, for your comfort, absolutely avoid touching any plants without care!
And here's one of the fantastic reasons I chose Star Tree:
their drone photography service!
When captured against the backdrop of these magnificent natural views, the photos are just *insanely* beautiful! ㅠㅠ
📍 Baga Gazryn Chuluu
623H+G66, Choiri-sume, Dundgovi, Mongolia
4. Day 1 Ger Accommodation & Dinner Buffet
We finally arrived at our Ger camp, our home for Day 1! We also saw plenty of fellow global explorers, and we were warmly welcomed by two enormous yet incredibly gentle
Bankhar (Mongolian dogs)!
Ger Facilities
Our Ger was designed for three people, and here's the exciting part: it was a **modern Ger, complete with its own private toilet and shower right inside the room!** They even provided amenities, which was a delightful surprise.
Dinner Buffet
The dinner buffet was surprisingly excellent, even featuring seasoned fried chicken! However, here's a pro-tip: make sure to pack **Buldak sauce, ssamjang, and seaweed (kim)** from Korea.
Seriously, they are **an absolute must-have!**
Rain Brings Luck?
Suddenly, the sky darkened,
and a torrential downpour began, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
The weather turned surprisingly chilly, but the dryness of Mongolia
completely vanished, which was actually a huge bonus~
Since it rarely rains in Mongolia,
encountering rain is considered 'incredible luck'!
I'll take that luck! Thanks!
We wrapped up our first day in the ger with ramen and drinks~!
(Pretty much every night ended like this with drinks... haha)
Day 2 will feature the Flaming Cliffs of 'Bayanzag' and
a romantic night sky stargazing episode!
If you have any questions about traveling in Mongolia,
feel free to leave a comment anytime! 😎
+
Discount code: STRSSJ2026.
* Available for use when booking on the website,
and applying this discount code will give you ~$29 off per person.
* Applicable to all tours.
Comparing Mongolian Local Tour Operators: Recommended 6-Night, 7-Day Gobi Desert Package for the Best Travel Season
Mongolia Travel Review: Gobi Desert & Terelj Course 6-Night, 7-Day Tour Itinerary - Star Tree RecommendationFrequently Asked Questions
What discounts can I receive if I book a 7-day, 6-night Mongolia tour through 'Startree Mongolia' tour agency?
If you book on the official Startree Mongolia website and use the discount code 'STRSSJ2026', you can receive a discount of ~$29 per person. This discount code is applicable to all tours.
What is the itinerary for the first day of the 7-day, 6-night Mongolia tour, and what are the main travel distances?
The first day's itinerary involves arriving at Ulaanbaatar Airport, exchanging currency, visiting Nomin Supermarket, then proceeding to Baga Gazriin Chuluu (caves & temple) before checking into the first ger. It's approximately 20 minutes from the airport to Nomin Supermarket, and then 250km from Nomin Supermarket to Baga Gazriin Chuluu.
Why did a team of 6 choose a Starex van instead of a Furgon for the 'Startree Mongolia' tour?
We chose the Starex considering the comfort of our necks and backs throughout the 7-day, 6-night itinerary. Even with 6 people and a full load of luggage, it was more spacious than expected, very comfortable, and caused no inconvenience at all.
What facilities did the ger accommodation have on the first day of the 7-day, 6-night Mongolia tour?
The ger on the first day was a modern ger with a 3-person room structure, featuring an individual toilet and shower attached inside the room. Basic amenities were also provided.
What snacks or alcoholic beverages are recommended at Nomin Supermarket during the Mongolia tour, and what items should be avoided?
At Nomin Supermarket, we recommend Doritos Taco flavor, EDEN Vodka, and Russian Berry Juice. Specifically, milk can be watery and bland, so it's best to avoid 'lactose-free' products.
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